KUALA LUMPUR, October 25 – Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Najib Razak, has issued a public apology regarding the 1MDB scandal, expressing deep regret over the mismanagement of the fund under his leadership. In a statement released from prison, where he has been serving a 26-month sentence, Najib stated that he was unaware of the fraudulent activities and apologized to the Malaysian people for the scandal’s impact.
Najib emphasized that recent developments, including a court ruling in Switzerland convicting PetroSaudi executives and new reports by The Edge, have reaffirmed his stance that he was deceived. He claims that he was misled by Jho Low and PetroSaudi, who diverted funds from 1MDB without his knowledge. “I was not the mastermind, nor did I conspire with Jho Low to embezzle funds from 1MDB,” he said, stressing that he believed the funds he received were political donations from Saudi Arabia.
The former Prime Minister acknowledged that he could have taken different actions when concerns arose about 1MDB but admitted that he relied on explanations from the 1MDB board and management. He added that his focus was on resolving the financial issues related to the fund while protecting Malaysia’s diplomatic relationships.
While expressing regret for what transpired at both SRC International and 1MDB, Najib remains adamant about his innocence, stating that it is unfair for him to be legally held responsible for actions he claims he was not aware of. He concluded by hoping that future legal proceedings will prove his innocence and restore his reputation.
